Andy Irvine

Subject: Andy Irvine
From: Ballyholme
Date: 07 May 02 - 03:31 PM

It seems that many of us who were eagerly awaiting Andy Irvine on his US tour will be disappointed. Apparently his work visa has been delayed and he has already cancelled about half of the schedule dates. Efficient as ever, Andy has posted details of the debacle on his website - http://www.andyirvine.com/calendar.html

Let's hope that the authorities see reason and hand the visa over before it's too late to salvage the tour.

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: michaelr
Date: 07 May 02 - 07:21 PM

Well, he could always pretend he was Saudi and apply for a flight school. He shouldn't have any problem, then...

Michael

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: InOBU
Date: 07 May 02 - 07:24 PM

Having caught his first gig here, low these many decades ago, with Paul Brady at the bottom line,when he opened for Dave Bromberg... well, this really sucks. Cheers Larry

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: Maryrrf
Date: 07 May 02 - 09:53 PM

This is really a shame and a disgrace. I read Andy's account of what happened. What a bunch of idiots we have at the INS. AND THESE ARE THE SAME SCREWUPS THAT SENT A VISA TO ONE OF THE TERRORISTS WHO TOPPLED THE WORLD TRADE CENTER - SIX MONTHS AFTER HIS NAME AND THAT OF THE FLIGHT SCHOOL (WHICH HE HAD ALREADY ATTENDED) HAD BEEN PUBLISHED IN ALL THE PAPERS AND BROADCAST ON ALL THE NEWS PROGRAMS!!!! Oh and by the way he was already dead, too.

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: GUEST,Phil Cooper, haven't reset cookie
Date: 07 May 02 - 11:22 PM

I was just informed by the folk alliance that there's some sort of Senate hearings on INS policy and they need comments before May 10. This is just the sort of thing that needs to be presented, so that draconian measures aren't used.

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 07 May 02 - 11:35 PM

Have reset cookie. Below is a copy of what I was sent. Andy Irvine is a world class musician and shouldn't have to deal with this sort of thing.

Well, I tried to paste it in, but it wouldn't do it. My apologies. Send me personal message with your e-mail address if you want me to forward it to you.

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 08 May 02 - 12:10 AM

G'day all,

Sorry to hear that the bureaucracy has stuffed up Andy's tour. We enjoyed his stint at our Australian Folk Festival, this Easter ... There's his picture on the NFF web site (on the main stage in the the Budawang venue - with a 'glow-in-the-dark' Uluru (Ayers Rock) behind him!:

Andy at NFF (Aust)

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine (Help! JoeClone?)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 08 May 02 - 12:18 AM

G'damn ... I mean G'day!

Hmmm... something has gone wrong with that 'blicky' ... it has included the "ragtime.mudcat.org" Mudcat address, which was not included in my posting! (I will have to go read the permathread to see why the posting method I have used before does not now work ... maybe because I am in the 'Ragtime' version of Mudcat?)

Anyway, the URL for my pictures is:

www.folkfestival.asn.au/Images/02shots/gallery2/BobB.html

Lets hope the bureaucratic muddle gets sorted out, anyway.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

---

Link fixed. When linking to a site other than Mudcat, you have to inclued the http:// from the URL.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: Melani
Date: 08 May 02 - 02:50 AM

Write to your congresspeople!

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: Ballyholme
Date: 08 May 02 - 08:53 AM

Update: The news from Andy this morning (Wednesday) is that he thinks the visa will be ready for him to pick up and allow him to fly out later today. Unfortunately about half of his gigs have already been cancelled but if he's in your area go along and voice your support.

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: Zhenya
Date: 08 May 02 - 04:50 PM

I'm glad I just found this thread at this point, as the earlier messages were disheartening. He's scheduled to play here in NYC and I've been looking forward to it since I first heard about it. As of now, it does sound like the concert will go off.

He did a solo performance here a few years ago which was part concert, part discussion with the audience. Some past performers faced with this set-up were very uncomfortable taking spontaneous questions from audience members, or even annoyed about it. Not Andy Irvine! Not only was the music great, but he had a very engaging manner with the audience as well. He seemed to really welcome the questions and a chance to discuss his music or anything else people asked him about -- just a really warm personality. It was a really wonderful evening! So whenever he does get to your area, try and see him! Zhenya

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: GUEST,Den
Date: 08 May 02 - 06:01 PM

Now if Andy had been a pro basketball player...can anyone say Green card. Den

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: Bearheart
Date: 09 May 02 - 01:58 AM

Yeah , he was scheduled to play here (Athens OH) Tues night (7th) and we were really looking forward to it. Been a fan since forever, and my first chance to hear him live...

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: Ballyholme
Date: 13 May 02 - 08:40 AM

Update 5/13/02

Andy eventually made it to the States in time to make his gig at the Prism in Charlottesville, VA on Saturday night.

The not so good news is that the airline managed to lose his instruments! The played the gig with his colleague Rens with borrowed instruments and, as usual, slayed the audience with a fine set. Hopefully, his instruments will turn up in time for the rest of the tour. He shared the bill in Charlottesville with Niamh Parsons and Graham Dunne. A great gig.

Subject: RE: Andy Irvine
From: Les from Hull
Date: 13 May 02 - 09:50 AM

I do hope that people will turn out in droves to see Andy to make up for the disappointments of the tour so far. He's a brilliant musician, songwriter and human being (not necessarily in that order). And then can we have him back over this side of the Atlantic, please?